JustWatchMe

Arthritis here. Have been on Nabumetone for about a decade. Was on Vioxx briefly before they yanked it. I have disk issues too, but with the NSAID daily, it was kept in check. I've been on only Tylenol arthritis since October to prepare for this and see if I could live without NSAIDs. So far, no back problems and I'm just dealing with the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, foot, and hand pain with the Tylenol. I started a weekly Aqua Zumba class and it helps tremendously with the pain. I missed two weeks of it and felt the difference. This is all giving me hope that with weight loss, and upping my exercise, I can finally manage my arthritis pain without NSAIDs. Surgery is in six days, so here goes nothing.

Good luck!

This is it. My last day of solid food for six weeks. Surgery in 6 days. Today is Friday, and Lent, so no meat. I thought about treating myself to lobster, but it kind of defeats the purpose, so I'll just ease into this liquid adventure sensibly! My younger daughter is flying home on spring break tonight, and she will be my helper on my surgery weekend. She's very supportive. Maybe I'll make us omelettes tonight.

Happy birthday, HealthyNewMe!

Valarie, have you tried Ensure Clear? I tried the peach one and it's not too bad. It was at my local grocery store. I'm not too fond of IsoPure either, but I'm stocked up for the next five days. Tomorrow I'm getting myself lots of Jello, because they said I could have that too. I generally do not care for sweets -- mostly savory. I'm hoping I can get through this week with broths and these Protein drinks.

Great to hear! Sleep well and keep us posted!

I was told the pre-op clear liquids was to shrink my liver. Makes it smaller so that the laproscopic surgery is safer. They used to require two weeks of clear liquids ore-op, but had low compliance from patients, so they reduced it to five days and most people do it now. I'm gonna have the smallest liver he's ever seen.

I've told my mom, my best friend, my two teen daughters and my husband. That's all. Nobody else will know. The world may look at the band as the easy way out, but that doesn't mean I need to hear that opinion from others while I work my tail off changing everything in my life. And I know it will be work. Food has been my source of joy. As my evaluating psychologist said, I need to figure out what else can give me joy. As my surgeon said, I'll need new hobbies instead of eating. He recommended buying shoes or gambling. I think he was only half kidding. Anyway, this is tough enough without the peanut gallery chiming in. I recently watched some episodes of My 600 Pound Life. How someone can watch that and not see the struggle people go through even with WLS is beyond me. Maybe shows like that will start to change attitudes. Till then, I'll get my support here and in the group meetings once a month at the surgical center.

I also wondered if this was the best choice because so many medical staff were asking why I didn't want the sleeve. For me it's because it's the least invasive, and no permanent change of my anatomy. I'm fully prepared to change my eating permanently, but the safety of being able to remove the band if something went wrong is reassuring. I spent so many years on prescription NSAIDs for arthritis and went off them three months ago to prepare for this surgery. The NSAIDs always bothered my stomach, so I lived on Prevacid twice a day. I guess I'm always worried about ulcers, and what if I had bypass or a sleeve and something happened to an already small stomach? It's just a gut feeling, pun intended!

Thanks for the tip. I'm supposed to be outpatient, in by six am and out by mid afternoon, but you never know. And I will definitely walk the next few days after surgery before I go back to my desk job.

Hi Everyone, This is my first post. My surgery is March 13. I start Clear liquids on the 8th. I'm excited but nervous. Good luck to all of us!